Treaty of Georgievsk

by Czar Heraclius of Georgia, and Her Majesty, Catherine II., Empress of Russia

First Treaty between the Czar Heraclius of Georgia, and Her Majesty, Catherine II., Empress of Russia. 1783. 24th July; Old Style.^[1]

Art. I. — Henceforward Heraclius will no longer take the title of Vali of Georgia, as a Persian vassal; but, as being at the same time a Christian, and an ally of Russia he will take the title of Czar of Georgia; a title and in which Russia henceforward confirms him, as well as descendants in perpetuity, until the end of time.

Art. II. — All the countries formerly belonging to Georgia, and now occupied by the Turks Persians and Lesghis, as Saatabago, Rani, Movakani, Aghalzike, Tjavagetti, Levana, Atchara, Nonchinski, or Chekinski, Cherouan, and other places, shall be retaken at a fit opportunity, and are regarded as integral parts of Georgia.

Art. III. — On the death of the Czar, the investiture shall belong to Russia, which shall confer it on the eldest son of that prince.

Art. IV. — If any mission, or any secret or public Envoy, arrives at the Court of Tefflis, on the part of Persia or of Turkey, the Czar shall be bound to give notice of such an event to Russia, and before her decision no reply can be given to him.

Art. V. — In order to represent the Czar Heraclius, there shall be a permanent Resident at St. Petersburg. It is not considered necessary that Russia, on her side, should have one in Georgia.

Art. VI. — All the duties and revenues of Georgia, in money, bread, wine, &c., shall belong, as usual to the Czar alone, without Russia pretending to participate in them in any manner whatsoever.

Art. VII. — Each time that the Czar shall name to the first offices of the State, such as to that of the Sardar (chief of the army) or any other, he will submit his choice to the Russian Government, as a mere matter of form, witlvout Russia being able to offer any opposition to this choice.

Art. VIII. — The Patriarch, or Catholicos of Georgia, shall have the eighth rank amongst the Archbishops of Russia, and shall, consequently, add to his other titles that of Archbishop of Tobolsk. The Holy Synod of Russia shall never interfere, in any manner whatsoever, in the affairs of the Greek church of Georgia.

Art. IX. — The Sawadi (chiefs of the people or princes) and the Asnaouri (freemen or nobles) shall every where have equal rank with the persons, who possess in Russia the above titles of princes and nobles.

Art. X. — Those of the Georgian subjects who shall desire to settle with their families in Russia may do so freely; and, vice versa, the Russians may settle in Georgia. Again, in like manner, those who shall not be contented with having changed their country may again return on either side. Those amongst the subjects or soldiers of one or the other power who shall have deserted shall be reciprocally given up; even in the event of war with the Porte, the Georgians who shall be made prisoners, whilst serving in the enemy's ranks, shall be given up to the Czar; and the same on the other side.

Art. XI. — The Russian merchants arriving in Georgia shall enjoy there the same rights which they possess in Russia and reciprocally. On either side justice will be administered to them according to the laws.

Art. XII. — The above mentioned points shall be changed, if, at any time, it shall be considered necessary by the two contracting parties.

Art. XIII. — After six months' examination on either side the preceding articles shall be ratified.

Exchanged and signed at Fort Georgiefsk, on the line of the Caucasus.

1783. 24th July, Old Style.

(Signed)

For the Empress, Paul Potemkin.

For the Czar, Jean Bagration, Garsevan Tchaftehavadse.

Notes

1. The text is an imprecise translation of the original Russian and Georgian document from an English version of an extract from Itinéraire de Tiflis à Constantinople par le colonel Rottiers, a Dutch officer in the service of Russia.